Automatic antenna system



Jan. 18 1927.

J. H. HAMMOND, .m

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA SYSTEM Original Fil'ed July 9. 1920 !NVENTOR His ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, IlIASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA SYSTEM.

Original application filed July 9, 1920, Serial No. 395,018.

Divided and this application filed December 2, 1922.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide means tor maintaining a wireless receiving apparatus in a receptive condition after an antenna to which it is responsive has been grounded by accident or shell lire; to provide means for automatically substituting an Olllliil'l'xt a: non for an antenna which has been rendered iuopr tive by grounding; to provide a 'rcceivu apparatus lmvin r a plurality ot antenna. one of which is normally operative for receiving purposes and the remaining antenna: inoperative, and means for auto;natieally substituting for and rendering; operative one of the remaining antennae in case the operative antenna becon'ies grounded; to provide means for automatically substituting a sound wave responsive means for an antenna responsive means in case the antenna means is rendered inoperative; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown d' rrammatically one form of wire less receiving apparatus embodying the invention.

This application is a division oli appli cation, Serial No. 395,018, filed July 9 1990 for improvements in automatic antenna system by the same inventor.

Rei'c:rirrg to the drawing-,- a receiving apparatus l0 o't'any well known form, responsive to impulses ot radiant ei'ie v, graphically represented and arrar control a desired mechanism 11 such a steering control ot. a torpedo, vessel or other marine body. This mechanism 11 also arranged to be independently controlled l'iy receiving apparatus 12 of any well known form responsive to sound waves, the apparatus 12 being operatively connected to a receiving diaphragm 13, here shown as lo cated in the body of a trailer 14;, though it may be located at auysuitablc place on the torpedo or vessel itself.

For operating the receiving apparatus l0 it is included in a tuned circuit '15 having: a secondary coil 16 inductively coupled to a primary coil 17 which forms part of an, open aerial circuit grounded at 18 and including a battery 20 shunted by a condenser 21 and a conductor 22.

For the purpose of receiving transmitted radiant energy signals a plurality of antennae are employed, in the present illustration three are shown, 24, 25 and 26, support- Patent No. 1,542,938, dated June 23, 1925.

Serial No. 604,624.

ed. respectively at diilerent locations and so arranged and connected that but one at a than, is responsive to tmmsmitted signals. In the prclcr d form the antenna 2% is norznaliy 'i-inwporriro and is conne ted by a lead 239 throi suitable insulators to one side of a tuning coil 31, the other side or which connected by a, conductor 3-32 to a terminal submerged in a liquid conducting material such as niercuryg contained in a reccp c 9") made or? suitable, insulating matc- The receptacle 93 is closed at the hoti by a "onductil'ig' plug 96 of fusible mae which is electrically bonded to the con- -or 22 and leads to the battery 20 and circuit of condenser 21 thus com pleting the receiving circuits. The receptacle 93 is suitably supported within a container 97 having a pocket 98 formed in the tom portion through the walls of which so terminals 100 and 101 are led, the former having a conductor 102 connected to the conductor The receptacles Maud 95 are Sill'lllitFlV constructed being; respectively providcd with fusible conducting plugs 103 and .ltl l containers 105 and 106 having: pockets 197 and 108, the pocket 1.07 having two tor-- urinals 110 and Ill and the pocket 108 hav ing two terminals lifl and 11.3. The tern'iinal .101 is connected by a conductor 11 to the fuse plug 103 and has a branch 11.5 connccted to the terminal 110. The terminal 111' connected by a. conductor 116 to the fuse plug: 10-4. The terminal 112 is connected to the conductor 90 previously desrnribed as 1021(lll' to the radiosonic receiving armamtus l2 and the terminal 113 is connected to the conductor 91 leading to the receiving sound w:,ive device 13.

In the operation of? the form of the invention shown, the antenna 24- is normally connor-ted to the ground. 19 through the tuning coil ill, the mercury in the receptacle fusible plug; 96, wire 22 and condenser 21 to the, prin'lary coil l T. Signals are thus receivaliilc by the. antenna 24- to ir pcrate the steering mech anism 11.

If the antenna 24 becomes grounded, the battery 20 is short circuited through the fusible plug 96 which melts and allows the mcrcury 92 or other liquid conductor in the receptacle 93 to run into the pocket 98 of the container 97. dhis breaks the circuit from the antenna 24. and closes a circuit through the terminals IOOand 101 whereby the antenna 25 is rendered operative by connection with the ground 18 to receive signals for controlling the steering mechanism.

In case the antenna 25 becomes grounded, the battery 20 will be short circuited through the fusible plug 103 which melts, allowing the mercury to run into the pocket 107 of the container 105, thus connecting the antenna 26 with the ground 18 by way of terminals 11-0 and 111, so that incoming signals will operate the steering mechanism 11.

Should the antenna 26 become grounded, the battery 20 will be short circuited through the fusible plug 10% which melts and allows the mercury to run into the pocket 108 of the container 106, thus breaking the antenna circuit and closing terminals 112 and 113 to complete a circuit by way of conductors 90 and 91 to bring the radiosonic or sound wave receiving apparatus into commission.

The construction illustrated and described herein is merely what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention and it is therefore to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself thereto as many changes may be made in point of detail and other embodiments resorted to without deviating from the true spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a wireless receiving system, a receiving apparatus, an antenna connected to said receiving apparatus, a compression wave receiving apparatus, a compression wave responsive device, and means including a fusible plug for automatically connecting said compression wave responsive device to said compression wave receiving apparatus when said antenna becomes grounded.

2. In a wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time, and means including a plurality of fusible plugs for successively connecting an operative antenna to said receiving apparatus as successive connected antennae are rendered inoperative.

In a wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time, means normally connecting one antenna to said receiving apparatus to receive signals, and means including a fusible plug and rendered operative by the grounding of said connected antenna for connecting another of said antennae to said receiving apparatus.

l. In a wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time, and means including a fusible plug for successively connecting an operative antenna to said receiving apparatus, as the successively connected antenna is rendered inoperative.

5. In a wireless receiving apparatus, a plurality of antennae responsive to high frequency etheric oscillations, a receiving apparatus responsive to the energy of said oscillations and controlled by said antennae one at a time, a source of energy inert with respect to said high frequency oscillations and means including a fusible element responsive to said source of energy after connecting one antenna to said receiving apparatus in place of another antenna.

6. In a receiving system for radiant energy, a plurality of wave responsive devices, a signal receiving apparatus controlled thereby, means including a fusible plug in series with each of said wave responsive devices from said receiving apparatus and connecting a successive wave responsive device thereto.

7. In a receiving system for radiant energy, a plurality of wave responsive devices, a signal receiving apparatus controlled thereby, means including a container for fluid conducting material and including a fusible element normally retaining said material within said container in series with each of said wave responsive devices for disconnecting the respective wave responsive device from said receiving apparatus.

8. In a system of distant control by radiant energy, a plurality of antennae for the reception of radiant energy, control apparatus constructed to be responsive to radiant energy received by any one of said antennae and means including a fusible element constructed with each of said antennae and inert during the normal operation of the system responsive to excess of current flowing in a circuit of the respective antenna.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR. 

